Sorry about your pain. It has been 3 weeks since my RFA in the spine.Every day seems to get a little worse.Am seeing my Dr. tomorrow and hope he has some amswers. Good Luck !

I had Rf on my c3 c4 c5 and c6 6 days ago and am feeling worse everyday, I had my neck done 19 months ago and it was about 3 months or more before I started feeling better. I have odd nerve like burning which is getting worse the last 2 days, I was just looking for someone that can relate to this odd pain

Hi,

I had mine done in 4 places in my neck 3/08. I felt like I had a zillion sunburns under my skin in areas. Each week the sunburn sensation lessened. It took 6- 8 weeks for it to go away, but the procedure took 75-80% of my pain area away. It took away all of my neck & trap pain to my shoulder. The only place it didn't work was in my shoulder blade. That pain remained at a 9.5ish. I was very happy with that result, but it only lasted 2-3 months. I went to pain mgt. dr to have it repeated, & I was shocked that they refused. My pain mgt. dr doesn't consider the procedure a success unless it lasts at least six months. I wish they would try it again, but the dr said that the risks outweighed the benefits in terms of time for me. I am now on a pain meds. mgt program.

Hang in there. I hope that your burning sensation lessens, and I hope that you get great & lasting pain relief!!

You can PM me if you have any questions.

glo

This is all very interesting to me, as RFA is a treatment that my pain Dr. recommends instead of steroid injections.
Reading these posts, and others elsewhere, makes me very wary of this procedure.
Why does it hurt so much for so long afterwards?
Were you warned that this might happen?

I haven;t been on the site for a while. Glad I found the post. I'm scheduled for RFA on May 14. I am so tired of back problems. My Doc says it has to be repeated every 3 months and you hurt worse for the month after the procedure. So,,I'm doing this to possibly have 2 good months?

Tom

Hey Tom,

I hope your procedure goes well. I am a second timer, My first RF procedure was July of 2007 and the results lasted for about a year. The recovery was somewhat painful, tightness at the injection site and severe burning, The Dr.s call it a "BURNING SENSATION". I strongly disagree but that was the worst part. I am currently at 5 weeks after my 2nd RF and I am in Physical therapy and doing OK. So good luck and I will be interested to hear how you are doing!
Take Care
Kristi

I'm supposed to get this Radio Frequence Denervation procedure done and reading the above notes makes me quite fearful to have it. Just about everyone above has had significant discomfort and for some not much pain relief at all. It makes me wonder, "should I go ahead?" Please let me know what you think. Thanks

When the procedure was done on my cervical neck (3) different times, there was always the after effects of having someone messing in that area. It only makes sense - though it is not invasive, the muscles, nerves and so on are a little pissed off. At least that is what the doctors told me.

I had 2 different doc perform the same procedure and what a difference in pain after wards. The first doc had me lay on my side and it took nearly an hour - my whole body hurt from holding that position for so long and the procedure itself gave me pain. The second doc had me lay on my stomach and it took less time - Thus the pain afterwards was much less.

Lastly, though it didn't solve my problems, it did give me some relief of pain and gave me much more ROM of my neck. I still continued to have shoulder and sternum/thoracic pain. Now 1 year later, i'd give anything for the slight improvement....but the docs have moved on with other attempts to help me and now it is time for the nuerosurgeron.

Make you own dicision, but you will never know if it will help YOU or not until you try.

I even tried the Botox for my neck - now that is one procedure I would never repeat.

good luck - pm anytime
pfm

d the right side of my neck on the 15th I was told the radio frequency that the pain would get a little worse than I have had but it seems to feel a little better. The only problem I have is that the back of my neck is numb. I am having the other side done on Wednesday I hope this one is better. I am hoping everything goes well since they have suggested that my back I want to get off all pain medication. Any suggestions

Cheers and we look forward to your Forum Favourites selections!

taux pret auto - taux pret auto differe selon la rise en compte ... calculent automatiquement le taux pour un prêt automobile donne.

I had it for my back it takes about 2 weeks to kick in i still feel burning, but every day it get minimal, i love my pm doc and i trust him, this procedure is to last from 3-5 year"s but it does take time to work !!good luck to all

After an ACDR C5-C7 in June 2009, half a dozen epidural facet and trigger point injections both before and after the surgery I had to try it. I have the sensations you described above but not too bad. Actually about the same as my pain the last 4 years, just different. My pain DR said I can do anything I want physically as long as I can tolerate it. My Neuro surgeon said that if this works for a period of time he might consider another (higher) fusion for a permanent fix. And around and around and around we go !

Radiofrequency ablation is a procedure that creates a nerve injury produces local heat. When a disability is placed over a nerve pain, pain signals are suspended and the perception of pain by the brain decreased.

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had a radio frequency did on c spine. having alot of burning in the back of head area. anyone have the same problem. feels like head is on fire.

So, I want to say this with a ton of emphasis -- that these posts are so incredibly valuable. They may sound scary or even negative, but I take them as being 100% HONEST. For people like me who are told by their doctor (with a reassuring smile on his face) that this might help, I have now have the benefit of the experience of others to help me better contemplate whether the potential benefits are worth the potential side effects.

I am so happy that I came across this thread!

Thanks!
Dave

Update on my RFA. 4 days after the procedure the pain went WAY up. The highest it has ever been in the 4 years I have treated for this pain. As recent as 1 week ago it was intolerable. The DR's PA said it would go down in 2 weeks after the procedure. Unfortunately my visit with her was 3 weeks post operative !

However yesterday (4 weeks and two days since my RFA) the increased pain is just now starting to drop . I'll keep you posted.

my doc gave me 12 days to decide if i want to try RFA on my c5 through c7 right side only. he had given me medial branch blocks twice at about a month apart. the first time was with 1% lidocaine and it was effective in the c5-c7 area for 24 hours but made c1-c4 and the rest of my spine issues intensify. the second time was with 2% lidocaine and it was not effective in the c5-c7 area at all. i had to take pain medication about 1-2 hours after the procedure!

so my husband and i are trying to decide if i should even give this a try, and after reading all the possible side effects vs possible benefits from the information given to me by my doctor and this forum i just ran across today, i am not sure what to do! cost is another dealbreaker. if anyone has no problem stating their out of pocket cost or how much their insurance covered it please let me know asap. i would very much appreciate it!

thank you.

I had the first of the test with 1% lidocaine to see if the RFA is for me on Wednesday. There was no change in my pain directly after the procedure and so now they are going to do the steroid shot in my neck.
So hopefully that will give me more relief.

Dear Sufferers:

I am since 11/11/08 (car accident) in severe cervical-head-and shoulder pains. Had 4 RFA procedues and can only say that it "depends of the skills of the doctor" if the procedure is successful. I had 3 wonderful ones, then the doctor moved away. Now I have a new Neurologist, I am tampted to say, "Go back to the medical school" I had 2 injections and 1 RFA with the new one and absolutely nothing, maybe more pain. He scheduled me for a steroid injection, but I canceled, went to another, and asked for a Botox injection. My neighbor has semilar pains, also from a car accident, and swears about Botox injections. Thus, I will try my first one soon. Again, as you all can read, the success rate differs with all of us, that means that the outcome of your procedure is in the hands of the provider.

Im 31 and suffer from chronic pain that resulted from a martial arts injury three years ago.Ive had RFA 5 separate times. It has been the same pretty much every time: 6 weeks burning and agitated and spasming muscles in my neck. After that however, I am %80 pain free for approximately a year at a time. I have to have it from C-7 to my third occipital on the left and right side. My doctor wont do each side at the same time so the whole thing from start to finish lasts 12 weeks. Despite the increased pain for 3 months, it is worth the treatment.

.....Another concern is that by damaging nerves, pain will be caused rather than relieved. There is a small chance (less than 5%) that the pain will worsen after the procedure. This is believed to be from increased irritation of a nerve that was only partially damaged, not completely destroyed. This can be treated with medication and usually goes away in several months. It is less common in the mid and low back than in the neck, and is most common at higher levels of the neck.
http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/injections/radiofrequency-neurotom...

(Mine was C-spine)

To all neck sufferers:

I am now 2 1/2 year in treatment after my car accident and endured every method possible to get pain free (head, neck, shoulder), and nothing helped really. My neighbor in semilar situation advised me to try Botox for pain. My insurance covers it, thus, I gave it a try. Wow, it worked immediately and I felt as if I never had an accident. However.....

it did NOT last long. Only 7 days. My neighbor told me that with time, it last longer and longer and hers last about 4 months. The injections is 100% pain free, it is a miracle. Although I am now back with pain, the Botox doc said that he can perform it only all 3-4 months. Maybe the time from one Botox to another will last longer in future. It is worth a try.

Regards,
Peggy43

I had 8 RFA's done over three weeks ago and the pain and burning is getting progressively worse. Just to comb my hair is excruciating. It is now spreading to my face and I am about to go crazy from the pain. Is there anybody here who could shed some light as to how long this may last? I am ready to go out of my mind from the pain. Thank you.

Hello Paula,

I don't know if I understood you correctly. As far as I know, NO doctor does 8 RFAs at once; I mean they inject in different levels, but max. 3, so I was told, more is too risky. Well, I quote from my doctor, when I complained about "combing my hair" (like you, sensitivity). He wrote, "In regard to skin hypersensitivity which you ar experiencing (skin)it is related to the FF procedure; there are small sensory nerve fibers innervating upper neck and the back of the head and when I perform RF procedure in the upper part of the cervical spine, sometimes I cnnot spare those, and you might experience this hypersensitivity for a few weeks, but it should eventually go away." He then prescribed Gabapentin and advised Magnesium 0TC with 1000 mg twice per day, take vitamin D3 with it."
Well, eventually, it went away. However, I, personally, would advise, waste of time and pain, since the pains return sooner or later. I gave up and am now with Botox. It helps me 100% at once, but sadly, does not last long either. More, I do not know presently; Botox would help you with your face nerves at once.

Much Luck,
Peggy

There are many doctors and many reasons for performing RFA on more than just 3 nerves or 3 areas. I've had 5 done at once and my niece just had over a dozen.

"C"

Yes, I did indeed have 8 RFA's in one day. I have placed 5 calls to his office and have not received one call back. I sit and cry the pain is so intense. There is no way I can go through this much longer. I need to find a new pain doc. I am on Fentanyl and percocett and it is not even touching it. I am very angry that he did not inform me that the pain could be worse afterwards. He did say for two weeks I could be sore, but it is over three weeks and I am so far beyond SORE!!

Thanks so much for your feedback, it is truly appreciated.

Dear Paula,

I do not question your honesty that you received 8 RFAs, but my doctor would have never done it. It is really irresponsible from the doctor. My doc asked me if I have more pain above or below (I am German and express myself maybe incorrectly, what I mean is more up or more down (cervical)). He would not do the entire disks. Well, my experience is, that it is not worth the agony, since a RFA does not last much longer than a "normal Steroid injection" or Botox.

Paula, put an ice ring around your neck, use something that calms you down, either holistic or I use some Xanax. I had 2 weeks after pure hell with two levels injections. And the pain will return most certainly. With Botox you get relief the same day. I had no side effects at all, no pains, but sadly, it did not last too long. Don't forget the ice on your neck.

Try it,
Peggy

Dear Paula,

Every doc has a "different opinion" about everything, that much you will know by now. The drawback for this procedure is that nerves regenerate, so the pain relief - if he shoots it into the correct place - last anyway only a short time. RFA can injure the skin layers, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves. There are no many skilled docs out in what ever procedure you undergo, for example: I "needed 3 eye-lid surgeries" until I looked the way it should have looked after one. Or: I had 2 tummy tucks and n o t h i n g.... Wasted every time $10.000!!! Go to a dentist. With one you "feel" nothing (pain) when he works, with another one, even the shot hurts like hell; Paula, the same is with RFA. I have experienced it and never would go for another one. I really do not know what you can do, if it does not calm down. My sister had a "failed back surgery" wow, she is in brutal pain. Nerves are very hard to fix, I could write a Best-Seller about it. Also, you can be one day better, and wumm, next day back to hell. Can't you not go "in person" to your doc's office who did it, when he does not answer you phone call?

I wish you much luck, but sadly, do not have a good advise.

Peggy

Pain relief from RFA can be short term, long term or even permanent. It all depends on the individual and the physiology behind whatever is causing that individual's nerve to send a pain signal. Some people respond very well to RFA, while others do not. Some have the nerves regenerate, others do not.

Please do not feel as if you are doomed to failure because someone else has not had success. I would hesitate to jump from one pain doc just because you aren't having immediate relief or response after one type of treatment. Since you are seeing him tomorrow then query him about the procedure, your current status and what to do in order to remedy it if possible.

I've had a lot of RFA and have had both good and bad results.

"C"

I've had four RFAs done, with some corisone injections in certain areas, and have had great results. Generally I have three levels done, bilaterally, but I have also had levels of my C,T and S spine done, bilaterally, with incredible results. The only area that didn't respond that great was my T spine, but most of the pain appeared to be along the spinous process. Relief has been from five weeks to several months, and in some areas, up to a couple of years. I get relief immediately, so I know I am one of the very, very lucky ones.

Tracy

I am contemplating RFA to T9-10 area after failed discectomy. You ALL have given me food for thought. Most of the discussion has been cervical related. I have pain in all 3 areas of my spine. Thank you for the valuable thoughts and honest replies!

TRACYLYNNE -
You said the only area not responding was the thoracic spine. Did you have rib pain in this area besides the spiny area of your back? So curious about that. I've heard that thoracic responds best to RFA. Thank you for responding to me when you have time.

I came across this forum a couple weeks ago while researching RFA. I have been battling migraines that have been getting progressively worse since I left the military in '93. It has gotten to the point were I have had some degree of headache everyday for over a year. My neurologists have had me on every preventative and active drug there is out there. Nothing has helped. Finally a chronic pain Dr. sent me down to the little po dunk town of Yankton SD to Dr. Coehen. A week ago tomorrow he gave me blocks to C2 & C5 on the right side to see if I was a canidate for RFA. So far 6 days without a headache for the first time in a year. I only wish that I would have known about this procedure several years ago. I truly believe that it would have saved me alot of missed time at work and to much missed time with my family. The headaches have almost cost me my marriage and my job. I thank God for the skillfull hand of Dr. Coehen and his wonderfull staff. I feel that if there is a certain amount of pain associated with thhhis procedure, it will be worth it. Reading all of the posts here I have weighed all of my options and it sounds like the thing to do. It has to be better than the alternative. I hope that all of you continue to feel relief and continue to recouperate for your situations. I know that already I have almost been reborn to life my life like I had it almost 20 years ago.

Well the steroid block lasted a week and a day, and the headaches are back. So next week my Dr. is going to go ahead with the bilateral ablation. Hope to God this works. One week without pain felt too good and I hope that it lasts for a long time. I feel for all of you that have had to endure your pain for long periods of time like myself. Hope that everyone is doing well with your treatment.